The S-Classes That I Raised - Chapter 472: Letter (3)

‘This is within expectations.’

It must be a banquet hall or something. The overall lighting was slightly dim, with a bright spotlight in the center. Round tables and chairs had been pushed aside to the sides, leaving only one set in the middle. And the scent of flowers and grass filled the air—real blossoms decorated every nook and cranny. How much must those flowers have cost?

‘He really does seem to like flowers.’

Director Song mentioned that in the years she’s sent him flowers, they’d fill several trucks, and his house even has an indoor garden. By contrast, Yuhyun and Hyunah have apparently never received flowers. Soyeong once said she’d gotten a flower or two, but she wrinkled her nose and complained, “Feels like a warning—like the mafia,” she said.

The central table was also laden with flowers. A five-tiered tray spilled over with various desserts. An elegant tea set sat beneath cascading vines of blossoms. Beyond it stood Seong Hyeonje. I’d often wondered why he went to such trouble. Then again, he only gives orders—the underlings do the heavy lifting.

‘He must pay well.’

Maybe something like a hundred thousand won an hour. Hmm, tempting. If the pay equaled a month’s salary… He’d hire civilians for the grunt work, but since it involves an S-Rank Hunter, there’d be a hazard allowance too. I crossed the plush carpet and couldn’t hold back.

“How much did you budget for labor here?”

“…I have no idea.”

“You must’ve set a budget.”

“I treat it like pocket money. I don’t budget for hobbies. Isn’t that how you are, Han Yujin?”

“No, I record even buying a cup of tteokbokki. I set a limit for snacks each month in advance.”

Even as an adult, I’d thought about how much I could spend before ordering coffee on a winter day. Now my wealth is too complex to tally, but I’ve never just splurged on hobbies. Of course I check expected costs and actual spending.

“Even if you went bankrupt, you’d rise again quickly.”

Even if all Awakened Hunters and dungeons vanished, he could go into the entertainment industry. After all, before S-Ranks became the new nobility, celebrities were called nobles. He’s Korean, but in Hollywood he’d pass as a star who’s thrived since childhood.

Despite the late autumn chill, I stood before a springlike spread.

“I was too excited yesterday.”

I met his golden eyes squarely.

“Because I like you, Seong Hyeonje. That made me even more angry, disappointed, and annoyed.”

If I hadn’t felt anything, I’d have just thought, “Ugh, what a headache,” and let it go. If something had never entered your personal boundary, you wouldn’t suddenly push it away either. If a close friend announced, “I’m moving today,” you’d be surprised, upset they didn’t tell you, and worried. But a stranger moving away—it’s no big deal.

“I like you very much, too, Han Yujin.”

Hyeonje lifted the teapot.

“If you’re sincere, you’ll show me the letter. You can explain exactly what you intended.”

He poured the tea.

“You just said you’d received a proposal—never any details.”

Given he’d dragged me to China and caused me hardship, I was on edge. But maybe it was nothing—a dinner invitation, perhaps. And maybe Park Hayul’s sister likes him? She seems popular with older men—the crescent moon is older too, after all.

“Do you mean this letter?”

He set down the teapot and produced the letter. He stretched his hand at once, but of course, he didn’t hand it over.

“There are naturally constraints.”

“A contract? Of course you wouldn’t hand over such an important letter without precautions. Probably that I won’t show or reveal it to others. Come closer.”

A trivial contract—surely not SSS-grade. When I spread my arms as if to embrace him, he placed the letter on the table.

“If the contract breaks, Chloe will leave too.”

Ah… of course. Even if they block the airport, an S-Rank Hunter can cross borders easily. Could swim to China or Japan if needed.

“Then will you help capture Chloe Hunter?”

“I wonder.”

He curled the corner of his lips.

“I didn’t make the contract simple. There’s an exception.”

His fingertip tapped the letter’s edge.

“I have no loyalty to die for. If my ability can’t protect the letter—if it’s taken—I haven’t broken the contract.”

“Hey, Hyeonje, if you don’t want to die, hand over the letter.”

Naturally, he refused. The exception is meaningless. How could anyone seize it? Perhaps by coaxing it away and taking it to an elder.

“If you have time, would you go on a date with me? There’s a dungeon with good water nearby.”

I’ll be nice.

“As much as I regret a rare date request, the aquarium is still pending, so I must refuse.”

“You could just do it at your place.”

Hyeonje made a disappointed face—Hollywood material, indeed.

“Fine, the aquarium it is. Why not invite everyone?”

“If even one S-Rank Hunter accompanies you, simply taking the letter out of inventory voids the contract.”

“…Troublesome. You mean I must remove all threats before the letter leaves my sight?”

“Exactly. Right now, with the letter on the table, there’s no problem. And Seong Hanjeol isn’t here.”

“It’s Hanjeol. Better to capture Chloe Hunter first, then verify.”

There was no way I could snatch the letter alone. Even from three paces back, he could neutralize me before my hand reached the table.

“She might not come in person for her reply.”

“Then… that’s a pity.”

If Hyeonje remains on our side, maintaining the contract—whether Chloe shows up or not—is advantageous. We can gather more intel. So the best plan is to see the letter’s contents without breaking the contract.

‘…There’s no method, is there?’

Stat F, no attack skills, multiple items but facing an S-Rank born strong, with combat foresight. Impossible to take anything from him. He’d feel safe placing it there and mocking me.

Hyeonje’s gold-eyes smiled calmly.

“If you manage to snatch the letter intact, I’ll cooperate willingly.”

He’s toying with me—wait a moment.

“You’re annoyingly confident.”

I frowned, planted my feet, stole a sidelong glance at the letter, then—

Crash!

I hurled myself at the table. The letter vanished in an instant as the table tilted wildly. Flowers and the dessert tray crashed down around me, burying me in vines on the carpet. My thigh throbbed from colliding with the table’s edge.

“That wasn’t very commendable.”

I lifted my head from the blooms. Golden chains had appeared, suspending the teapot and cups in midair—no spill. Forks and knives rattled.

“You at least tried.”

I slumped amid the petals. Hyeonje tapped the fallen table’s base with his toe, and it snapped upright as if pulled by invisible strings. The teapot and cups clattered back into place.

“As you can see, I can’t grab the letter by force. So, how about a wager? You speak of conditions as if you could lose.”

“If there’s any chance I might lose, it’s impossible.”

“A no-lose wager, then. If I win, you hand over the letter undamaged, legible. If I lose, you grant me one request—just one, for me alone. Nothing like handing over the breeding grounds, or dismantling Myeongwoo’s weapons, or making Hanjeol change genders.”

Hyeonje would never lose such a wager; losing would effectively cost him the letter anyway. He’d resort to such a loophole to flaunt it.

“You’re tempting.”

“You could ask me to side with you. You could even take me with you to Korea.”

His eyes narrowed momentarily. Did he think I meant to switch sides?

“The condition must be something I want, not yours.”

“Fine. What will it be?”

“A game of tag—no breaking walls, ceiling, floor. Ten minutes only.”

“You have a teleport item, don’t you?”

“Can’t afford it with remaining points. And it can’t pass through barriers. Ten minutes isn’t long—if I escaped, could you catch me? Extra help is foul play. Monsters count too.”

Hyeonje tilted his head. Impossible to evade him for ten minutes alone.

“It’s too unfair for me. Let’s make it three tries.”

“Even in five minutes I’d win.”

He studied me suspiciously.

“You said you spent most points on the Nightmare Dungeon?”

“I had to buy Yuhyun’s sword first. SSS-grade one-time items aren’t even available.”

“You were serious about killing Song Taewon.”

He recalled my used items. At best, a Minimini Cookie.

“And dungeon rewards aren’t for self-benefit.”

“You know too much.”

Hyeonje took a pocket watch from his inventory and set it on the table. Then the contract appeared.

“Even if I win, I won’t break the contract or withhold the letter.”

“I have no loyalty to endure penalties. If my power fails, I’ll accept the letter being taken.”

In case, I’d disable Curse Resistance the moment I won. We each signed. Immediately—

Clink—

“Wait!”

Chains wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground as flowers rained down.

“One attempt.”

“You can’t even let me equip gear?”

“I’ll give you three minutes. Time won’t count down.”

Generous. Just before the chains released me, I used an item: “The 71st Drawer of the King of Nihility.” Instantly, the surroundings shifted. A blue sky appeared overhead and below—

“What—!”

Splash! A noisy wave crashed. Damn, jellyfish? Why water? I’d activated Grace, but couldn’t stop swallowing water. Not salty, at least.

“Damn, ugh, jellyfish!”

—Beep! Beep!—

The drawer? Grace popped out, startled. Struggling, she tried to swim but couldn’t stay afloat. I quickly flung a wire at the nearest tree. It wrapped itself, and I climbed ashore.

Gasp “That was almost the end of me…”

I could’ve just stepped out, but then I’d lose. I lay on the grass like a drowned rat. Both my shoes were gone… expensive ones.

“Can’t we specify locations?”

Jellyfish might be fine on the surface, but not me. Grace’s blessing made water bearable, but still. Maybe fire would’ve been safer, though oxygen scarcity could kill me too. And what kind of drawer…?

“A drawer…”

—Beep!—

I rose, spotting a villa-like building. Where am I? It looked like a sunny three-story Mediterranean vacation home on a tiny {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} island surrounded by water—but in a snowglobe style, the water area wasn’t vast.

“…Looks like Myeongwoo’s forge, but smaller?”

“You said it was just storage, not big.”

“Grace, stay inside. It might be dangerous.”

Who knows what’s here. Better to wait out ten minutes quietly. I imagined Hyeonje’s shock, and felt pleased—he’d never guess I’d receive such an item. Grade L, perhaps. And he was someone who had no reason to do me favors. Unless he’s a fortune teller, he’d be clueless.

I lounged peacefully for the ten minutes, then emerged.

“If I could keep using this, it’d make a great villa.”

Nice weather, clean water. I don’t know the interior, though. Mana recharge might be tough. I strolled toward the entrance, peering inside, when—

‘…Huh?’

Something moved. What is that?

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